Kobe Bryant puts $100 million in investment firm

In this Monday, Aug. 22, 2016, photo provided by the New York Stock Exchange, retired NBA star Kobe Bryant, center, rings the opening bell with executives and guests of Bryant Stibel, at the NYSE in New York. Bryant has partnered with Jeff Stibel, an entrepreneur and investor, to form the $100 million venture-capital firm based in Los Angeles. Photo Credit: AP

Bryant Stibel has already made investments in 15 companies, including LegalZoom and home juicing company Juicero, according to their website. The firm was founded in 2013, but is going public now with the retirement of Bryant from the Lakers.

Stibel said the firm is focused on companies at all stages of growth.

“We are actively looking for great entrepreneurs, but we are in no hurry to deploy capital,” he said.

Bryant earned roughly $680 million in salary and endorsements during his 18-year NBA career, according to Forbes, and has been in the process of transition from professional athlete to businessman. Bryant created a company in 2014 called Kobe Inc. to help handle his image. — AP